"I’ve seen the All-Star game and obviously, it hasn’t been competitive." San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama wants improvements to the NBA All-Star game.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will compete in his second NBA All-Star Game this weekend, but it will be his first as a starter.
This year, the league will take yet another alternative route on the format of the marquee event, which follows a weekend full of festivities while teams enjoy a break from regular-season games.
Five players from the Eastern and Western Conferences were voted as starters in the game, per usual, but the rosters will be broken into three teams: two Team USA's and a Team World complete with international players, such as Wembanyama.
The three rosters will compete in round-robin matchups with a deciding "championship" game ending the Sunday night event.
It's the NBA's latest stab at trying to increase the game's competition level, something Wembanyama, despite being in just his third season, knows needs to be a priority.
The Frenchman was asked about why he is advocating for his peers to heighten their competitiveness in this environment.
"That comes from the fact that I’ve seen the All-Star Game and obviously, it hasn’t been competitive," Wemby said to reporters.
"I’ve always thought myself that if I was in there, I’m never stepping on to the court to lose or not caring. Just like at home, I’m never stepping into a board game not caring if I’m going to lose. So I’m thinking it’s (not) OK to lose, so I’m going to be out there, I might as well win."
Competitiveness was certainly on Wembanyama's mind when he unleashed 25 first-quarter points on the Los Angeles Lakers. He ended with 40 in just 26 minutes played as the Spurs routed the Lakers 136-108.
If this type of efficency is any indication of Wembanyama's mindset going into the All-Star Game, expect him to get up as many shots as possible when he's on the floor for Team World.
It's typical for players to only get a handful of minutes as the game is designed to spread minutes around to all of those who are recognized with a spot as one of the league's brightest stars. Some players use that playing time to "get theirs", while others are more there to enjoy the camaraderie, knowing the actual basketball isn't worth the risk of something happening after exceding minimal effort.
"These kind of games, you’ve got to have the greed,” Wembanyama said with a grin when recapping his domination over the Lakers. "I mean, every game you’ve got to have this greed to want more every time, because, you know, at all times, it doesn’t matter who’s on the court, somebody is going to want to stop you from what you’re doing out there. So you’ve got to be greedy."
It sounds like he'll be taking that mindset into the All-Star break, too.
We'll see what type of competitiveness it brings out of his peers.